Safety device for gas-pressure.



PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904.

o. HQLMOK. SAFETY Dlvs PUR PRESSURE.

APPLICATN TILED DE02/3, 1903.

2 SHEETS- SHEET l,

lia/@mr y wow/UE No. 778,784. PATENTED DEC. 2'7, 1904.

C. HOLMOK.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR- GAS PRESSURE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26, 1903y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 778,784. i Patented December 2'7, 1904.

l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HOLMOK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN MATHEV OCONNELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR GAS-PRESSURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,784, dated December 27, 1904.

Application led December 26,1903. Serial No. 186,630.

T @ZZ whom 75 may Concern/f the contact device before mentioned fioats 50 Be itknown thatI, CHARLEsHoLMoiQacitiupon the surface of the mercury, and its zen of the United States, and a resident of opposite extremity is immersed in an in- Cleveland, countyof Cuyahoga, Stateof Ohio, sulatcd body of mercury, forming the stahaveinvented certainnew and usefullmprovetionary electrode, as soon as the pressure is ments in Safety Devices for Gas-Pressure, of removed from the movable-electrode. 5 5 which I hereby declare the following to be a The invention further consistsin the electric full, clear, and exact description, such as will alarm-circuit and operating electric circuit enable others skilled in the art to which it apfor the valve-lever, which cuts off the iiow I0 pertains to make and use the same. of gas, and in the combination and arrange- The invention has for its objects to provide ment of parts, as hereinafter described, shown 60 an alarm to call immediate attention to the in the accompanying drawings, and specificcessation of the flow of gas in the pipe, which ally pointed out in the claims. should supply a constant current to the heat- 1n the drawings, Figure l is a central vering and lighting burnersofahouse orfactory, tical section through the device, showing a so that attention being called to the failure battery and bell-circuit in connection thcre- 6 5 of gas they can be closed to prevent the with. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the device stream of gas from filling the buildingl when showing in place of a bell-circuit a circuit it recommences to flow, and thus avoid the of more powerful potential and electrically- 2o sufi" ocation of the inmates at night when they operated means for closing the valve in the would be asleep and unconscious of danger. supply-pipe. Eig. 3 shows a bell-circuit and 7o The invention also has reference to means an additional circuit to operate the valve. for closing the supply-pipe to the burners In the views, l is the supply-pipe,,through when the gas ceases to flow, so that when the which the gas enters the building'. 2 is the 2 5 gas is renewed therein it cannot iiow again valve in this pipe.

until the valve is again opened. 3 is a nipple through which the gas enters 7 5 It is advisable to employ both devices sithe bent tube 4, the curved portion of which multaneously, since the inmates of the buildis lilled with mercury which rises at the ing should be immediately informed when the outer end at 6 as fast as it is depressed at the 3o flow of gas is stopped. inner end 7 by the pressure of the gas enter- The invention consists in the movable and ing through the nipple. The tube 4L is me- So pressure-operated electrode and in the artallic and permeable to an electric current rangement therewith of a stationary elecand is provided with a binding-post 8 for one trode, insulated therefrom and so placed relaof the wires of the battery-circuit 9, in which 3 5 tively to the movable electrode that contact is placed the bell 10. is made between them when the pressure is The tube i may be made of glass or other 8 5 removed from the movable electrode and the impermeable material and the contacts insame is released and subject only to atmosserted therethrough, if desired. pherie pressure. v Floating' upon the surface of the mercury 4o The movable electrode iswell represented as is the cup l1, to which is secured the rod a column or piston of gravity-iniiuenced perconductor l2, preferably of copper, which 9o meable material in a pipe, one end of which extends upward and is provided with the is in communication with the gas-supply pipe downwardly-turned contact-point 13. rlhis and in the opposite end of which is inserted a point is suspended above the insulated cell of contact device resting upon and supported by mercury 14, so that when the fioat resting the movable electrode. upon the movable column below is lowered l For convenience mercury is employed as the the point 13 is immersed in the mercury in the movable electrode, and the pipe in which it is cell. A metal ring l5, lying in the bottom inclosed is bent to prevent its escape, and of this cell, is connected electrically with the battery-circuit by means of the insulated screw or post 16.

The cell and tube 17, through which the contact-wire passes, are made of impermeable material, such as vulcanite, and they may be inclosed for protection in a metal case, as 18. A cap 19, also of Vulcanite, may also be placed over the cell, and a metal cap 2() may inclose all the parts.

The rod 12 may be made adjustable in length by means of a sleeve 21 or other means, and so regulate the movement when the rod shall enter the mercury in the cell. This can be arranged to ring the alarm when the pressure iiuctuates greatly or arranged to ring only When the pressure fails entirely. When lowered, it is desired also to close the valve in the supply-pipe. An arrangement somewhat like that shown in Fig. 2 may be employed. Here 22 is a lever secured to the valve-stem 23. 24 is the core of a solenoid-coil 25, included in a circuit 26 of high voltage, which has its terminals in the binding-posts 8 and 16 and connected, respectively, with the stationary and movable electrodes. As this core is sharply withdrawn within the coil it pulls the lever to shut the valve.

In Fig. 3 is shown a combination of electric means for sounding' an alarm with means for closing the valve. Here 80 is a solenoidmagnet included in the battery-circuit 9. The core oi' this solenoid is a magnet, upon the outer pole 31 of which is mounted a spring'- armature 32. Upon the extremity of this armature is mounted the contact-point 33, which when drawn down by the magnet enters the insulated mercury-cell 34, which is one of the electrodes of the high-potential circuit 35, the contact-point 32 being the other pole. In this circuit is placed the solenoid 36, which actuates the valve-lever 22. 37 is the generator. It will therefore be seen that when the bell-circuit is closed the solenoid-magnet will attract the contact-point, which will engage the mercury in the cell and close the high-potential circuit.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a gas-pipe normally a stationary insulated electrode, above they iiuid electrode, normally out of contact with Said stationary electrode but adapted to make contact therewith when the movable electrode and conductor falls from atmospheric pressure, an electric circuit having its terminals in said iiuid and stationary electrodes, and a second electric circuitunder the control of the first-mentioned circuit.

2. The combination with a gas-pipe normally filled with gas under pressure, of a curved pipe in open communication therewith, a il uid electrode in said pipe, adapted to rise atits outer end by means of-gas-pressure, and fall by atmospheric pressure, an insulated cell adjacent to the outer end of the curved pipe, a 'l'luid electrode stationarytherein, a conductor vlioating upon the outer end of the iiuid electrode, and adapted to make contact with the stationary eleetrode when the pressure is removed 'from the movable electrode, and an electric circuit containing an electrically operated alarm havingits terminals in said movable and stationary electrodes.

3. The com bin ation with a gas-pipe normally filled with gas under pressure, of a curved pipe in open communication therewith, a cell of insulating material mounted upon the outer end thereof, a fluid electrode within the pipe, a float thereon, a conductor secured to/the iioat having a downwardly-turned extremity, a iiuid electrode stationary in said cell, an insulating-tube through which the said conductor passes, means for adjusting' the length of the said conductor, and an electric circuit having its terminals in the said electrodes.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand this 18th day of December, 1903.

CHARLES .HOLMOK I/Vitnesses:

WM. M. MONROE, C. H. ULDs. 

